Softball Earns Split with Dutchmen as Eagles Belt Three Homers in Game Two

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata softball team split with Lebanon Valley, losing 10-1 before winning 5-0, on a chilly, cloudy Sunday afternoon at West End Field. 

The pitchers traded zeros through the first three innings, with Gracie Ruch cruising early. 

The Dutchmen started to break through in the fourth, as they a pair of runs on a two-run homer. They scored on a throwing error in the fifth and another two-run blast in the sixth as the Eagles trailed 5-0 heading into the final inning.

The visitors went for five runs in the seventh to double their lead as the Eagles found themselves in a deep hole with only three outs left. Ashley Cheung drove in Alison Superka from third with a single up the middle for the lone Eagle run in game one.

Game two saw the Eagles get on the front foot as they were the first to score, driving in a run in the second inning. Caleigh Love led off with a single to center and stole second. She got to third on a wild pitch, and Emily Eutsey smashed a double off the fence in right-center to put JC on the board.

The rest of the Eagle runs came via the long ball. Claire Thomas smashed a ball over the fence in right to double the Eagle lead in the fourth. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Alex Douglass reached on an infield single and stole second. Superka drove her in with a towering homerun to center. Thomas enjoyed her first so much that she followed with her second homer of the day to push the Eagle lead to five. 

Cate Baran did the rest as she went 7.0 innings, allowing six hits, three walks, and striking out three. She sprinkled the hits around to keep Lebanon Valley off the board. 

Juniata returns to action at Wilson Wednesday at 3:00.